Falling Into Darkness Ch. 07

Anna nuzzled against Cael in contentment. She couldn’t believe she felt as completely comfortable as she did waking up with his arms wrapped around her. She closed her eyes and thought back to their love-making earlier. It was the best sex of her young life- wild, erotic, passionate, and… she’d never had three orgasms before. It seemed that being the bedmate of an ancient vampire had its advantages after all.

She frowned. She was the bedmate of a vampire.

A VAMPIRE!

The sense of contentment faded as the reality of her actions slammed into her viciously, almost knocking the wind from her lungs.

Vampires had…fangs. They sucked blood. They had magic to make people do what they wanted them to do; to seduce them, to use them.

Had he used his magic on her? Had she even wanted to have sex with him?

She felt a horrible pain in her chest even as she struggled to breathe.

All those feelings couldn’t have been Cael’s doing, could they? Tears filled her eyes and she choked back a little sob. What if it was all a lie?

Their connection was so intense it was frightening. There was something about him that constantly pulled her towards him; she wanted him to hold her, to talk to her, to kiss her. The draw had been so overwhelming that she’d slept with him only a few weeks after being brutally raped. It was more than just strong feelings. It was almost a… craving….

What was WRONG with her!

“Anna,” he breathed to her dreamily. “Are you okay?”

She jumped in surprise. “I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.”

“Not when you’re upset,” he returned caressing her arm softly.

“Really,” she lied. “I’m okay. You need your rest.”

He pulled her close and nuzzled into her hair. “I could say the same for you,” he breathed.

That sense of contentedness overwhelmed her once again. His body was warm and his flesh was smooth against her naked body. His scent was a mixture of male musk and fresh, clean skin. She inhaled deeply letting the feeling of his presence fill her senses. She’d never felt so treasured and protected. His powerful arms made her feel safe and loved.

She shivered again. And that, in itself, was inherently fucked up.

Irritated at herself, she squirmed out of his embrace and headed for the shower. She’d never felt so unsure of herself, so divided, in her entire life. The more she felt the strange compulsion to be with him, the more it frightened her. She knew so little about Cael’s world. His magic and immortality made her feel helpless, powerless, and worse, useless. Cael didn’t need her like she needed him. He could take his kingdom back without her help. In that light she was really just worthless, battered goods. She stood under the hot, pounding water trying to sort out her thoughts.

What was happening?

She’d just made love to a vampire.

Nodding to herself she exhaled and breathed deeply. She could deal with that.

She was drawn to him. She wanted him.

She took another deep breath and let it out. Absolutely normal. He was the only link to gaining back her life…A life without him.

She felt her eyes fill with tears at the thought.

A life…without…Cael.

Her soul screamed.

Impossible. She was falling in love with a vampire.

She couldn’t breathe.

Fuck! She was…

She shut off the water and wrapped herself in a towel. With trembling hands and shortened panicky breaths, she dried off quickly and threw on a pair of jeans struggling to pull them up in the moisture. Everything was fighting her, even her clothing as it stuck to her damp skin. Shakily she ran her brush through her wet hair doing her best not to whimper aloud in panicked frustration as she couldn’t steady herself enough to even pull through the tangles. The world around her was pounding, and each breath was agonizingly painful and frantic. The little voice in her head that was so logical told her she was having a panic attack, but she didn’t bother to listen. Her hands trembled, and she couldn’t decide if she wanted to vomit, faint, or just run.

The door to the bathroom opened and she let out a little shriek in surprise and slammed her body into the wall her eyes wide, her breast heaving.

“Easy, Anna,” Cael said gently.

She wanted to run away. She wanted him to hold her. Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him, and her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

Cael approached her slowly, but she tried to pelt herself against the wall as though she could escape him if she just squished her body tighter. She was trapped!

He reached out and touched her cheek gently making her flinch. She wanted to get away before she was completely lost. She couldn’t stand this compulsion. She couldn’t stand it to be a lie.

“Anna,” he breathed. “Look at me. Look in my eyes.”

She didn’t want to look, did she? She couldn’t. She didn’t want it to be a lie.

“Anna,” he cooed.

GOD! She couldn’t think. Something inside was screaming and she wanted to scream with it. She looked up into his stunning jade eyes. They seemed almost to glow, as though he was illuminated from within.

“Anna,” his smooth, melodious voice chanted.

He stepped a little closer and brushed her dripping hair off her forehead. His fingers caressed her cheek gently making her shiver involuntarily. She stared at him feeling as though she was falling into some kind of trance. His glorious eyes were hypnotizing her.

“Love,” he breathed softly.

Her body trembled at the sound. How could a man’s voice sound so beautiful? She sunk into him; his eyes, his touch, his voice. Slowly her laboring heart slowed, and her panting breaths became deep once again.

“Cael,” she whimpered after her adrenaline-hyped senses seemed to come down off their natural high. Her voice sounded pitiful and needy to her ears and she felt tears fill her eyes in shame and frustration at her own weakness. “Cael,” she choked again despite herself.

“Shh,” he whispered. “You’re okay.” He pulled her close and held her tightly stroking her back comfortingly. “You’re okay.”

She clung to him like he was the only thing that anchored her spinning world. He was her only anchor, and he was…a vampire.

“Oh God!” she sobbed in frustration.

“Let’s talk about it,” he breathed softly in her ear.

“You know what I was…” she began in surprise but she stopped herself. Of course he knew. He was a vampire. He could read her mind. He knew everything she always thought.

“I only read your mind just now because I was worried about you,” he replied to her unspoken thoughts. “I could feel your anxiety even as I slept.” He stroked her back again comfortingly. “You have a right to question me. I’m a vampire. I’m very different from you. Come. Let me answer your questions,” he paused and looked into her eyes gently, almost sadly. “Please.”

It was the slightly vulnerable look in his eyes that shattered any remaining resolve to resist him. How could she deny such a man, as powerful as he was, when he looked at her so tenderly? She let him lead her back into the bedroom and sit with her on the edge of the bed. He kept his arm about her, comforting her as though he seemed to know she needed him to steady her life.

“Ask me anything,” he said after a while. “What do you want to know?”

She looked into his handsome face. His stunning eyes were soft and gentle, and his wavy golden hair was tousled from sleep. It was hard to believe that this man drank the blood of others to live. It wasn’t the question she really wanted to ask, but it was a beginning.

“What is it like to…” she shrugged helplessly. She didn’t think ‘sucking blood’ was an appropriate thing to say.

“Feed?” he said for her.

She nodded.

He sighed. “I don’t remember how blood used to taste to me before,” he admitted. “They say it’s coppery, but to me it’s sweet. I suppose it’s like drinking the best, sweetest drink you can imagine.” He stared out thoughtfully. “Strangely enough, this is the first time in a long time I’ve actually had to hunt. Most vampires still do, but it was an inconvenience in my life with all my responsibilities. Usually I had a supply from donors that I kept in the house. I’d almost forgotten the elation of drinking flowing, warm blood.”

“Can I see your fangs?” she asked a little timidly.

His gentle eyes grew a little wary then and she could see a myriad emotions flash though his eyes. It made her want to cry. Was he truly a monster and he’d been hiding it from her all this time? For a moment she thought he wouldn’t show her, but finally he sighed.

“I can’t deny you anything, Anna,” he said, his sensuous voice sounding almost sad. “I know you don’t understand how much power you have over me. Forgive me. I should tell you no, because I think it will upset you, but I can’t.”

She watched in fascination as he opened his mouth. Slowly his canines began to elongate and sharpen into fangs. It was…incredible; terrifyingly magical. She wondered if it was painful for him to make them grow from his gums like that, and she tried to imagine those fangs puncturing someone’s neck. She looked back into his eyes fearing that his face had distorted somehow into one like the monsters she had seen on television. But everything other than those two, sharp, white fangs remained the same, except perhaps his eyes seemed to glow a little. There was no hint of a “demon in disguise” as the legends went. In fact, his fangs made him even more dangerously beautiful.

“Does it hurt when you bite people?” she asked reaching out to touch them and then dropping her hand. It was probably not good etiquette to touch.

“Usually I suppress the sensation from their minds so they feel no pain,” he admitted.

It was a strange juxtaposition to hear him talk in such a gentle voice and while looking at those deadly fangs. It occurred to her that she wasn’t even afraid, even though he could probably rip out her throat if he wished.

“You fed from me that first night.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t remember it very well,” she said trying to think back.

“You were very sick.”

“Will you feed from me now?”

He froze and his fangs went back at once in surprise. “Anna,” he groaned. “You don’t understand what you’re asking me.”

“Tell me what I’m asking, then,” she demanded. She felt an odd sense of elation as he bared his beast to her. It was at once intimidating and empowering.

“Feeding can be very… intimate. For a vampire it can be as intense as making love, especially when the vampire has feelings for his victim.”

She felt her eyes widen. “Victim?”

“Anna, I would be drinking some of your blood; your life force. You’re still weak, but even a normal human would feel exhausted after a vampire fed from them.”

“So it’s not like donating blood?” she asked.

“I suppose it is. Have you ever donated blood?”

She nodded.

“It’s a little like that, then,” he said quietly.

She bowed her head thoughtfully trying to digest all that he’d shown her. It was nothing like what she expected. She’d expected fangs, a demon’s face, claws… but he was so normal.

“Is there anything else?”

“Like what?” he asked taking her hand in his.

She never realized how tiny she was in comparison to him. Not that she was short, but delicate. Looking at his masculine hand as it enveloped her slender fingers she felt like a little child holding onto an adult.

“Like powers or things I might see that would scare the crap out of me?”

“I’m a frightening creature,” he admitted. “You’ve seen my fangs when I’m at peace, not threatening you. Yes, I have power.” His eyes glowed for a moment when he spoke. “Not just over the minds of others; all vampires have that. It helps them to feed. Controlling minds is almost instinctual.”

“So any vampire can just make me do what they want?” she said, that panicky fear edging back into her mind.

“I can show you how to block that power, even block me,” he said squeezing her hand. “It should be useful for you if you have to go up against others of my kind.”

She was silent for a moment as she wrestled with the idea of mind control. He didn’t push her, and she was grateful. Even though she wasn’t panicking anymore, her thoughts whirled so fast she couldn’t follow them. There was so much to ask…

“What else? You said everyone can do mind-control. What else can vampires do?”

“I can’t explain it to you,” he admitted. “I’ll show you, but first you have to promise not to be frightened. I’d never hurt you.”

She nodded mutely, though she cringed instinctively.

“Easy, my angel,” he said kissing her hand with his sensuous lips.

He made a slight gesture and the chair that had been pushed under the small table in the room was suddenly flung across the room crashing against the wall.

She shrieked and jumped in alarm.

“I can control my environment without touching it,” he said squeezing her hand encouragingly. “When I’m angry, it’s very difficult to control me. My power is almost limitless,” he paused and smiled wryly, “other than breaking down a steel vault door it seems.”

Was he truly that powerful? He could bring the room crashing down around them. God, he was gorgeous, his power was awesome, terrifying…intriguing. Like a moth to the flame, she wanted to be closer than she was before. She wanted to press her body against his, let his essence overwhelm her, become a part of him. She had an image in her mind of Cael lying above her like before, his body inside of her, and she felt a burning desire for his mouth against her neck. Even as he thrust into her body, her blood flowed into his mouth…

“I want you to feed from me,” she said. The image in her dream felt so right.

“No.”

She looked at him in shock. “Why not?”

“For many reasons. First, you’re still frail. Second, you don’t understand what it will do to our connection,” he explained.

“Connection?” Her heart began to pound. This was what she wanted to know… she couldn’t bring herself to ask, but… “I don’t understand,” she managed to say.

GOD! Couldn’t he just tell her what it meant?

He smiled knowingly, almost arrogantly. She felt a surge of irritation at that possessive, knowing grin. It made her feel like she was completely out of control, and much to her irritation, made her want him more. Damn. Why did she find cocky bastards so attractive?

“This feeling between us isn’t common. I’ve known only four vampires who’ve experienced it, and only two are alive today.”

“You mean in all your life, you’ve never felt…this before?”

He shook his head.

She stared at him in amazement. In all his centuries, he’d never felt the pull they were feeling now. There was no other woman that had this with him. More than anything he’d just shown her or told her, that thought made her feel better. At least her feelings weren’t a lie. At least she wasn’t just another girl. She sighed and nodded, finally allowing herself to lean into him, to let his powerful body support her.

He held her for several moments in silence, as though he knew that was what she needed but then he finally sighed.

“We need to pack to leave,” he said. “I need to feed tonight. Especially since I won’t be able to for a few days once we reach the house. If you’ll pack us up, I’ll be back in a few moments.”

Her face paled at the way he talked about feeding but she swallowed and nodded. He’d gone a couple of nights ago, too. She was going to have to get used to it sometime.

***************************************

We’re being watched, Kieran thought to his mentor.

Of course. You don’t expect them to just let you out of their sight?

It pisses me off.

Darian chuckled wickedly. “I find that there is very little that doesn’t piss you off, my boy.”

“You know, I am around thirteen hundred years old,” Kieran sniffed. It irritated him to no end that the old vampire still treated him like he was five. As much as he loved Moiree like a father, he felt a little too much like a father sometimes.

Darian sniggered. “See what I mean?”

Kieran chose to let it lie. So how are you planning on ditching our shadows?

We’ll just deviate from our flight plan, land at the personal airport of an old friend and get a car. It should only take a few days.

The younger vampire nodded in approval. You’re crafty for an old bastard, you know?

Moiree smiled. “I’ve missed you, too, lad.”

They boarded Darian’s private jet and took their seats in the luxurious couch-like chairs.

“Something to drink, Ancient Ones?” asked a gorgeous vampire with long legs, nutmeg hair, and fat lips that just begged to be devoured.

Kieran knew what he wanted to drink and it wasn’t brandy. He smiled at the little thing and noted that she blushed appropriately.

Quit screwing with my stewardess.

She’s delectable.

She has a partner. Paws off!

Kieran smiled roguishly. Perhaps her partner would be willing to share.

Moiree rolled his eyes in irritation. “You really are a little demon.”

Kieran smiled baring just a hint of his fangs.

********************************

“What do you mean they disappeared?” Kaiden asked.

“All we know is that Moiree’s private jet never made it back to Paris,” said his informant on the phone.

“And Montasse was with him?”

“Yes.”

Kaiden took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Fine. You have twenty-four hours to figure out what the hell happened to them. If you fail to produce anything useful, you can expect the girl to be staked out in the sun.”

“Please,” the other vampire begged his voice breaking. “I’m doing everything I can.”

“Do more.”

Kaiden slammed his phone shut growling angrily and paced yet again. Things had been going perfectly. After nearly a century, he’d finally managed to get Alexander LeGaulle at his mercy. The bastard had been locked in an indestructible bomb shelter, left to starve to death; a slow and painful death. The empire of Alexander LeGaulle in America was getting ready to crumble.

What the fuck had gone wrong?

A girl. A stupid, fucking, human girl! That’s what went wrong. And Bradford.

A light rap on the door interrupted his thoughts, and he growled in irritation.

“What,” he snarled.

“I have news,” Elise purred as she walked in the room.

“I’m not in the mood for you right now, Elise,” he said irritably.

“Oh,” she smiled sauntering over to him.

He swallowed hard. Even pissed he couldn’t resist the seductive sway of her hips. She was wearing a slim-fitting blue skirt and a slightly transparent white silk blouse that was unbuttoned to show the swell of her breasts. Just the thought of being buried inside her made him growl hungrily.

“I think you’ll be in the mood quite soon,” she said smiling.

He pulled her against his body and crushed her mouth possessively; dominating her, tasting her blood as his fangs cut into her lips. She whimpered in his arms and tried to push him away, but he growled warningly as he began to fumble with the buttons to her blouse. Impatiently he ripped it, sending buttons flying, growling hungrily at her exposed skin. He pushed her back on his desk flinging things away as he devoured her skin, licking her nipping at her and sampling her blood.

“Kaiden,” she gasped. “Listen…”

“Shut up,” he growled as he pushed her skirt up about her waist noting in satisfaction that she was wearing no underwear. He slipped his fingers into her hot folds, finding them slick with arousal. At his touch her hips bucked against him convulsively. He nipped harder at her skin suckling her blood as his fingers sought her wet depths and stroked them, making her writhe and moan as he assaulted her with pleasure and pain.

Impatiently he unfastened his pants and freed his now throbbing cock. He looked down at Elise smiling cruelly. Her hair was mussed and her lips were swollen and red. Her shirt was ripped and her blood was dripping in little trails from her mouth, her chest and her stomach where he’d nipped at her flesh. Her skirt was pushed up and bunched at her waist and her legs dangled off the side of his desk. He thrust inside of her roughly smiling as she shrieked and convulsed around him; she’d always had a hard time accommodating his size. As her walls convulsed about him sinking him in pleasure he groaned. God, she was just what he needed to let off some steam.